posted on September 15, 2001 12:45:54 AM new
The post office sells the contents of packages they can't deliver.
Why can't they deliver it? We may never have an exact reason unless someone that works for a post office can tell us.
Why is this allowed? The law states that it is legal.
Why does ebay allow it? Because the law says they can.
If they can't deliver the items they should donate the merchandise not sell it.
Why doesn't the post office refund your shipping if a package becomes "lost".
Not only are we paying them to deliver something but we are also out the cost of the item if we don't pay them for insurance on the item.
Which if you saw how much merchandise is out there on ebay for sale by the post office, you would pay for insurance on every package you ship.
So now the post office is forcing us to have to pay them more because of the volume of packages they lose.
I find it hard to believe that the package would not have a To or From valid address for them to ship to.
What about these rate increases?
Am I the only person that has a problem with the rate increase in January and again in July and yet another rate increase request this month?
[ edited by gardenaccents on Sep 15, 2001 03:10 AM ]
posted on September 15, 2001 12:57:58 AM new
"Why can't they deliver it?"
Because the recipient has moved and the item was sent by a rate that wasn't returnable to sender. Because the shipping label fell off and there was nothing inside that showed who to return it to. Because the label got wet and the address and return address smeared beyond recognition. To name a few reasons.
"Why is this allowed?"
Because the law says the Post Office can sell the items if they cannot locate who to deliver it to. The post office has held auctions several times a year in several locations for MANY years (probably more years than you are old).
"Why does ebay allow this?"
Because the post office is doing nothing illegal.
"If they honestly can't deliver it they should donate the merchandise not sell it"
The proceeds help to fund the post office.
"I find it hard to believe that the package would not have a To or From valid address for them to ship to."
Believe it....see my answer to your first question
posted on September 15, 2001 01:45:55 AM new
"Amy" do you work for the post office?
I always include an copy of the address inside the package as recommended by the post office and sorry but when the usps loses packages I ship, I nor the person it was sent to ever receive the package.
What is defined as legal is governed by someone other than the person who is out a big express at the benefit of the "post office".
Why do you feel it is neccessary to fund the post office? I do not see any reasons why the well paid employees and high priced postage needs any additional funds.
Can someone tell me why the post office needs more funds and if so how do you validate your support for the post office.
With two rate increases this year and another request to increase by the post office just this month, I think they have enough help with funds.
The post office isn't losing any money because a package isn't "deliverable", they already have a gain because they have not provided the service that has been paid for.
If the post office wanted to help someone that needs funds they should donate the money they are making on ebay to the families who have a real lose right now, the families in New York and Washington as well as all across the nation.
When we experience a crisis like what is happening in NY, we should all pull together and do what we can for those in need, especially if we are able to.
I like to use Fed Ex Ground for all my packages now.
They have low rates and do not charge an additonal fee for insurance or tracking on Ground packages.
Plus if a package hasn't arrived you have an 800 number to call for assistance.
Fed Ex Ground has never lost a package sent by me.
Of course I still have to use the post office sometimes but I don't like to.
I have some good suggestions for the post office to improve the service they provide if anyone can give an address to contact them with.
I mean a real contact address not a general address for inquiries.
In response to what "amy" says about the reason for lost packages.
I always write the address on the box and I use an ink pen that does not bleed so I don't have to worry about a label peeling off or the ink running plus I include the address on the inside of the package too. But somehow the packages still don't arrive so there is obviously a problem other than theses that I have listed.
I always insure my packages sent by the post office now but all of the packages that were lost by the post office were uninsured.
[ edited by gardenaccents on Sep 15, 2001 03:12 AM ]
[ edited by gardenaccents on Sep 15, 2001 03:30 AM ]
posted on September 15, 2001 02:27:10 AM new
Nope..don't work for the post office. But they do get about $800 a month from me.
Just because you include a packing slip inside the package doesn't mean everyone does.
Not all lost packages end up at a post office auction. Some are truely lost, never to be seen again. And others can be found years later when discovered behind something at the post office (it has happened). and of course there is the occasional mail person who ditches his mail in a dumpster or hides it in his home. And even though 99.9999% of postal employees (or anyone else handling the mail) are honest, there are those who are not. Sometimes the mail is destroyed in a fire.
Why do you feel it is neccessary to "fund the post office"?
I didn't state my opinion as to whether it was neccesary to fund the post office or not...I stated what they did with the funds.
With two rate increases this year and another request to increase by the post office just this month, I think they have enough funding as you called it.
Much as we may not like the increases it is not up to us as to whether the governing board of the post office grants a rate increase or not. Maybe rates would increase even more if the post office did not have the income from auctioning "dead mail"
The post office isn't losing any money because a package isn't "deliverable", they already have a gain because they have not provided the service that has been paid for.
Undeliverable mail goes to the "dead letter" or "dead parcel" facilities where postal employees try to determine who the sender or recipient was in order to try and get the item delivered or returned. This requires the transport needed to get those items to the central facilities. It requires facilites over and above those needed for the other postal activities. It requires personnel who do nothing but handle this "dead" mail. All of this costs money, so there is no "profit" on the postage paid for those items.
If the post office wants to help, have them donate the money they are making on ebay to the families who have a real lose right now, the families in New York and Washington as well as all across the nation.
I have seen nothing in your original post that said the post office "wants to help". If you feel the post office should donate the money they make on ebay to anyone then you should contact your representaives and try and get a law passed that will require this.
I always write the address on the box and I use an ink pen that does not bleed so I don't have to worry about a label peeling off or the ink running. But somehow the packages still don't arrive so there is a problem other than theses.
Yes, there does seem to be another problem. Maybe it is on your end? I have shipped over 8000 packages in the past 3 1/2 years and only ONE has been lost. ALL my packages go via the US post office. They do a fantastic job. And although the number of undeliverable mail is huge...as a percentage of the total mail they handle, it is very small.
posted on September 15, 2001 02:46:56 AM new
"amy" where do you get your information about the post office?
I would like to know more about them too.
How do I know what you are saying is true?
You stated that you don't work for the post office and you have only had one package lost but yet you state alot of information about a problem that you don't have trouble with, so how do you know so much on the subject?
You stated several reasons for why the post office loses packages and then after I confirmed how I take all precautions to prevent it from happening you replied by saying the problem might be on my end.
How so?
Of all the precautions I take, which are the problem.
I was suggesting what you stated that there are internal problems like the package is lost in the post office behind something or that a worker steals them.
What precautions do you take to have a 8000 to 1 ratio?
Why are you up at this time of the day?
posted on September 15, 2001 06:57:08 AM new
Garden, you're trying to pick a fight with one of the true saints of this message board. Please re-read and consider the information she's provided you. She has taken the time to try to help answer your question, please give her answer the consideration it deserves.
PS: as an aside, I really don't believe the post office can make money, even with the merchandise being 'free' to them, while paying the people who post and ship these items $15/hour or whatever they make. I think there's some middle-manager type there who's got the eBay 'bug'.
posted on September 15, 2001 09:23:28 AM new
Posting user id's is against Community Guidelines.
You will be in breach of this contract if you:
i) Private Information. Post private information about any person that is not readily available to the general public. This includes, but is not limited to, phone numbers, addresses, full names, email addresses, and<b> an auction ID or auction user ID. </b>
I do not want to support the usps auctions so I do not wish to post there user id.
I will say that they are making thousands of dollars.
They have several user id's for different catagories.
The one I came across has had almost 10,000 sales and a total of 124 negative feedbacks.
Anything you can think of is out there for sale by them.
Usually there auctions are for a combination of items because they have so much stuff to sell.
I will tell you some of the items that I have seen for sale.
Hockey Pucks
Baseballs
Dolls & Bears
DVD's & VCR's
Breadmaker
Tv's
Clothes( usually in large lots)
It wouldn't be hard to find them with so many auctions out there.
But all items are as is and the photo are not very clear.
They have had alot of negative feedback.
One person said the item was broke when it arrived and nothing was done.
One person said there item never arrived.
This same person left this feedback 7 days ago.
So here we go again.
They will be able to sell that lost merchandise again and again as long as the person never receives it and it keeps getting lost at the post office.
Even the post office is losing packages that they are shipping.
What is the problem?
[ edited by gardenaccents on Sep 17, 2001 08:48 AM ]
posted on September 15, 2001 09:42:05 AM new
Just to jump in here with my 2 cents...regarding the usage of an ink pen and no label. I did the exact same thing for a friend's package who lives locally to me. With my eBay stuff, I always tape over quite well, but with this one I just used a ballpoint pen on the box. With the DPS automated machines the PO uses, it peeled away JUST THE ADDRESS line of her package - it had gotten hooked up on something and it ripped it away. Luckily it came back to my return (that was intact) "insufficient address." I guess so, considering it said "'Jane Doe' Seattle, WA. 98199".
I just wanted to point out that the machines kind of do what they want to sometimes!
PS - My problem with the post office auctions is the ridiculously high postage they charge - way out of line for them. BUT, they have been having auctions for years, as these boards have discussed before. Another thing to keep in mind, you are the exception to the rule being a person who puts an invoice in and addresses with a pen. I had a package mailed address in pencil, very lightly, during December.
[ edited by kckckc on Sep 15, 2001 09:44 AM ]
[ edited by kckckc on Sep 15, 2001 09:45 AM ]
posted on September 15, 2001 10:35:36 AM new
If the Post Office had to compete with other delivery services, they would be bankrupt and gone in a matter of days. Instead, a lot of mail is required to be sent through the Post Office and incompetency and laziness is rewarded rather than discouraged. I had shipped a box of books to Nevada from New York. Apparently, somewhere along the way the box was broken open. Because of the nature of the shipment, a PO is inserted in each book with the Book's title, PO# and SHIP TO and SHIP FROM addresses. Each book was eventually shipped back to us individually with INSUFFICIENT SHIPPING ADDRESS on each one. Folded neatly with each book was the PO, folded BY THE POSTAL WORKERS so the SHIP TO and the ship to address were clearly visible. When all the books arrived back here, I had to gather them all together and PAY to have them shipped out again...This time by UPS.
posted on September 15, 2001 10:52:31 AM new
gotta add my story here. I mailed a payment to a seller two weeks ago. I had transposed 2 numbers on the envelope. 1092 instead of 1029. Everything else is correct. It took them 2+ weeks to return it to me. When I told the seller, she said, geez, there's only 10 houses on my street, and I'm the only Jane Doe!
posted on September 15, 2001 04:22:30 PM new
I know it their job to deliver mail, but a $20 bill as a thank you during the holidays or a gift of appreciation will do wonders to get mislabeled packages sent to you. I once had a package sent to me with no street address -- just company name and zip+4 -- it was delivered, no problem! Now that's service...
posted on September 15, 2001 10:24:06 PM new
http://cgi6.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewListedItems&userid=usps-mrc-collectibles&sort=2&page=2&rows=25&since=-1
posted on September 15, 2001 10:24:10 PM new
For those who want the user names, I am not going to break the CG rules about posting them, but the following thread may have info for you.
posted on September 16, 2001 01:07:11 AM newYou stated that you don't work for the post office and you have only had one package lost but yet you state alot of information about a problem that you don't have trouble with, so how do you know so much on the subject?
One doesn't need to experience a problem to have knowledge of the problem.
I "know" the things I told you because I am over 50 years old (so I have some life experience)...I read a lot...I listen to others...I ask questions...I use my "noodle" to draw conclusions from various pieces of "trivia" I have stored in my little grey cells over the years
What precautions do you take to have a 8000 to 1 ratio?
No special precautions.
Why are you up at this time of the day?
Probably for the same reason you were....I wasn't sleepy yet
posted on September 16, 2001 03:31:10 AM new
cin131, this is an area where the po really has to shape up. I believe the city st and zip are keyed in and if they don't match, the item is rejected. It may sit, as you well noted, a couple of weeks before it gets returned. There is no excuse for this and once caused me a big problem. I think some of the successes in receiving badly-addressed mail are due to the zip+4, as this gets it to the route. My experiences with the route people have all been excellent.
posted on September 16, 2001 03:48:49 AM new
It was stated that "incompetency and laziness is rewarded rather than discouraged". Do you think ups would have delivered the books without the fees? PO Rules started in the 70's (I believe) require anything without the fees to be returned. It had become fashionable to just leave the postage off, and depend on the po to deliver it anyway. Then it became fashionable to put the addressee's address in the return-address area so the item would be "returned" to the addressee. Many of the regs we think are stupid or silly are the result of the free-loaders loose among us. I'm sure I have sent and received 12000 to 15000 pieces of mail. The only few pieces missing were of questionable claims (ie. "I sent the check." It is a miracle that I can put a 34c stamp on a letter, put it in my mail box, and have it appear in Cal. 2-4 days later.
posted on September 16, 2001 03:55:50 AM new
Yes the post office does sell the lost packages, but only after years of of sitting in their lost mail facilities waiting for someone to claim them. I believe it is two or three years they have to hold on to them. If the sender does not insure their package or use a delivery confirmation it is hard for the post office to trace them. There is a tracer form that you can fill out with your contents of your missing box and they will search their opened or unlabeled boxes and return them to you.
They do donate a lot of items to soup kitchens, seniors church groups etc.
Yes-I do work for the post office.
posted on September 16, 2001 06:39:02 AM new
Take a look at some of the prices the post office gets for the things they auction off. Now tell me how they can say they don't make any money or don't have any money and have to raise rates. Hmmmm.......
posted on September 16, 2001 07:44:34 AM new
it is hard to truly comprehend the problems usps have unless you know how thier farflung operations work and the financial data which is not available to most of us.
retail business is always tedious,one customer can walk up to the window and ask the same question which has been asked a zillion times before,but she is an immigrant from foreign country and she needs to be assured she is doing it right and the package will arrive in her ex homeland,are you going to shove her aside becasue she is taking too much of your time for the 9.45 dollars she is spending??
in some part of the country which has suffered economic downsizing,folks get evicted or move in with friends and relatives or creative homeowners start carving out thier abode to renters,now usps has more non deliverable mails,returned mails and new mailing addresses created overnite.
on some resort islands,most addresses do not have live bodies most months of the year and the mailboxes just filled up with junk mail,real mail etc.
our postmen drive around all year round with no air conditioner(i am in houston).
if you think private carriers are going to be cheaper and better please study how citicorp retail banking serves the consumers,
fed ex ground could be subsidised by fed ex air patronised by many corporate clients who dont mind paying high fee,UPS just lost a lawsuit for taking too long to send out claim checks.
posted on September 16, 2001 08:40:32 AM new
Every one has had great input about the subject. I appreciate that AuctionWatch did not allow the user id to be posted.
I was not picking a fight with anyone just stating it as I see it.
I am not 50 years educated like amy is and wanted to know how she became so educated on the subject.
I like customer service and while the post office and Fed Ex Ground both do a good job. I still prefer Fed Ex Ground. My step mother works at the post office near my home and even she can't prevent my packages from getiing lost like someone suggested about giving money to them for assurance of delivery. No thanks I pay the post office enough. The postal carrier that delivers to my home is very friendly and I know him by name. He loves my dog so he will often ring the door bell to see her. Again i don't have a problem with the workers just the fact that they are aloud to sell our lost items on ebay for profit.
I respect the Postal workers of our country I just don't like this policy of allowing the post office to sell items, we ship, on ebay(items that aren't deliverable)
For the person that said this stuff sits for years before being sold that is incorrect.
I was searching ebay for an ab roller when they first came out and of course there were plenty on ebay and the usps had several on there auction site.
Also someone said they charge excessive postage on there auctions and this is true. This is how they pay themselves for there time so they are making a fortune on these auctions and anyone else that knows this please reply if you agree.
Besides the fact that they are selling our care package items that we might send a loved one, they are over charging on shipping and do not stand behind the items they sell so buyers beware. What you get can be broken and always pay for insurance or when it doesn't arrive you will be out all your money and they will not refund your money.
They have 120 plus negative feedback plus alot of neutral feedback.
It is a not a great auction site but every item up your auction has a bid.
There resources for what they have to sell is limitless as we all know what we have shipped to us.
It is true that other carriers may have packages that "get lost" but with Fed Ex Ground insurance is included so you will get your money back without having to pay extra to do so. Plus you get a written receipt on all shipments as proof for if your are every questioned about sending something.
Fed Ex Ground is very happy the post office keeps going up on rates but like someone else said there are some items that you have to send through the post office like "PO Boxes". Fed Ex can't deliver to a PO.
Thanks everyone for your two cents and more.
posted on September 16, 2001 09:34:53 AM new
usps is more than just delivering mail-change of address,temporary forwarding of mail,investigating mail fraud and prosecuting such,i see young parents come to our local post office with young kids ranging from toddlers to kids who run all over the place chasing,crying and playing with xerox machine,displays etc.
in fact wade has a novelty teapot called post office,chiildren played post office as a game.
not everyone is savvy and sophisticated as ebay sellers ,some are immigrants who ask a lot of questions,some want to save a few pennies,i have seen retirees who waited in line to save 5-25 cents,some mailers come to the counter looking for help in packaging.
i have on several occasions tried to open an account with ups or federal express and it just never work my way,meaning fitting my budget and convenience-bank acount with minimum balance,extra work in logging onto ups website,checking rates ,paperwroks.
our post office also serves as an outpost for catching crooks-some of the postal clerks behind the counters could be treasury agents looking for drug dealers and drug trafficking activities.
it is true usps insurance is getting stiff,1.10 for 50 dollars while ups is free or rather included in shipping up to 100.
but ups and federal express have a lot of corporate clients who dont mind paying more and they pack them very well while most amateur sellers like us ship usps and do not use elaborate customs fitted packing material .
just my 2 cents as i have been patronising our post office for 5 years and it is still the best deal for me.
posted on September 16, 2001 09:48:39 AM new
it also depends on what you sell,powersellers who sell electronic goods like pc,cameras and scanners,stereo systems are better with private shippers,booksellers definitely use usps bookrate,dealers in high end jewelry prefer usps registered mail where every step of the way,it is signed in as to where and who handle it.
intl shipping is cheaper with usps,but it does take longer.
same goes for gold coin and buillion dealers,usps is their preferred shipper
posted on September 17, 2001 08:39:24 AM new
you will breach the community guidelines contract if you:
i) Private Information. Post private information about any person that is not readily available to the general public. This includes, but is not limited to, phone numbers, addresses, full names, email addresses, and an <b>auction ID or auction user ID.
